Links: The Architecture Issue

[Cliff Hamm]

The current issue of Links magazine is devoted to architecture.  While it may not be in depth enough for the experts it is a nice introduction to the subject.  Joe Passov does an overview of architecture emphasizing variety, challenge and esthetics with the first two of most importance as the keys to good architecture.  The 8th at Pebble is used as an exemplary hole to illustrate these 3 elements.  In his words "the supreme question in the evaluation of any course:  How soon can I come back and try this again?",  or what I might call the fun factor, is hard to argue with.

There is also an article on all time best player architects by Geoff Shackelford and they are ranked (Old Tom Morris, Crenshaw, Bobby Jones, Weiskopf, Nicklaus)..  Nice short summaries of the styles of:  Ross,  Mackenzie, Tillinghast, Thomas and MacDonald/Raynor by Tom Ferrell.  Worth picking up.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Sorry to get a bit off topic, but mention the 8th at Pebble Beach brings me to Brad Klein's "Best and Worst Awards" at the back of his Rough Meditations book:

WORST SHOT IN GOLF: Tee shot at the par-four eighth at Pebble Beach... There's nothing to see except the steeply rising wall of rough that blocks out the fairway. But nobody cares, because...

BEST SHOT IN GOLF: Approach to the green at the par-four eighth at Pebble Beach... A few unfortunate souls have driven their golf carts off the cliff while in awe of this splendid view.

Funny.

[Mike_Young]

If not mistaken Joe Passov has now moved on to golf Magazine.  He did a great job at Links.

[Jay Flemma]

Yes...Joe is at GM.  Woo hoo!

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks to Dan Kings excellent site www.golfobserver.com here's the link to Geoff Shackleford's article.

http://www.linksmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=AE163FEC439548B9A87B0102626BFCD3

as the link is long you'll have to cut and paste unless someone competant can fix it.

[David_Tepper]

Cliff -

My issue of LINKS has not yet arrived. Regarding G. Shackelford's article on the best golfer/architects, did James Braid make the list? He certainly should have made the top 6 or 8.

DT

[Sean Walsh]

David,

Althoug I know there is better I'm a Hackett/Braid supporter (I think in US Politics it would be booster)

I loved Brora, Carne, Enniscrone.

Does anyone in Oz subscribe to Links?  If not what is the cost?

[Cliff Hamm]

David

No he did not make the list (only 5 listed).  Try this link:

http://www.linksmagazine.com/ME2/Default.asp

Sean ... Subscription cost is $14 for 7 issues (one year).  My copy did not have a per issue cost but likely $5 or so.

[Jerry Kluger]

Has anyone visited Faldo's Cottonwood Hills - is he doing it with Steve Smyers?

[Craig Van Egmond]

Jerry,

     No, Steve Smyers is not involved with Cottonwood Hills.  There have been some threads about the course and Jeff Brauer has visited the site and written about it.

Here is their website:  http://www.cottonwoodhills.net/

[Scott_Burroughs]

A lot of good construction pics on that Cottonwood Hills web site, including one of the island green.

I got my Links yesterday, and the main articles were pretty good reads, including Geoff's, although I was curious where he got all the "Skinny's" on the player-architects' designs.  I doubt he's seen all himself.  I thought one of them was 'overstating it' a bit.

[Sean_A]

David & Sean

Braid rarely gets the respect he deserves as an architect.  Tis a terrible misjustice.  I hounded my golf club for four years to put up a plaque on the proshop to pay respects to James Braid as one of the architects who worked on our course.  

Ciao

Sean

[Mark_Fine]

Sean,
I'm playing at Elie this spring.  I believe Braid learned that game at that links course.
Mark

[Sean_A]

Mark

Elie is a real treat.  The course is very low key, much like many of the courses Braid worked on.  Many of the holes remind me of North Berwick.  I think the simple features he incorporated into design can be appreciated the more one plays Braid influenced courses.  Braid is really an extension of Old Tom.  They both seemed to keep things elementary, but interesting and cost effective.  Hackett was probably the third architect to carry on this modus operandi of design.  I have a lot of time for all three.  Is there somebody out there doing what these chaps did?  

Ciao

Sean

[Jeff_Mingay]

Mark,

Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to play Elie, but I walked the course with Tim Liddy one day. I was fascinated with the place. Very interesting topography and setting. I think you'll love it.

There's a pub along the road next to the course where a ton of Braid photos and other memorabilia hang on the walls.

[Mark_Fine]

It's one I have not seen and I'm looking forward to it as well as a number of others.  

We talk a little bit about Braid in our Hazards book.  Braid commented about his ideas on bunkers and hazards in the books Golf Greens and Greenkeeping (1906) and Advanced Golf (1908).
Mark

[David_Tepper]

Anyone not familiar with the James Braid Golf Trail should check it out at:

http://golf.visitscotland.com/jbcollection/

[Matt_Ward]

Getting Hunki Yun on board as Editor is clearly a major step for Links.

In years past the only thing you could count on from Links was PR type articles on various real estate driven golf developments as the magazine favored a "you scratch my back with advertorial favorable copy and we will make it a point to scratch your back with ads in your publication."

The architecture issue may not be thought of as thaaaat great by those who reside here but it's a clear indicator of what a national magazine can do if the focus is present.